Petaluma, CA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Leash length required
- 6 feet maximum for control
- Off-property rule
- Must be on owner's premises or leashed
- Named exceptions
- Guide, trial, herding, security/police dogs
- Tether time cap
- 8 hours max in 24 hours
- Consequence
- Citation plus impoundment under Ch. 9.28
- Governing code
- PMC § 9.08.130(A)-(B)
Summary
Petaluma requires every dog off its owner's property to be under physical restraint by a leash no longer than six feet, or it is legally "at large" and subject to citation and impoundment under Municipal Code Section 9.08.130. Guide dogs, trial dogs, and herding dogs are named exceptions.
A. It is unlawful for any owner and/or possessor of any animal to suffer or permit such animal to be at large as defined in this section. Violations of this section are subject to citation and the animal at large is subject to impoundment as authorized by Chapter 9.28. B. In the case of dogs, "at large" means a dog that is not on the premises of its owner and/or possessor or the premises of another without permission of the owner or occupant thereof, or not under physical restraint by a person capable of controlling the dog by means of a leash not exceeding six feet in length.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2931 NCS, passed July 6, 2026).
Full Breakdown
28. Subsection (B) defines "at large" for dogs specifically: a dog not on its owner's or possessor's premises, or on another's premises without permission, and not under the physical restraint of a person capable of controlling it by means of a leash not exceeding six feet in length, is at large. The definition carves out five exceptions: guide or service dogs performing duties for blind, hearing-impaired, or physically disabled people; dogs in field or obedience trials or exhibitions; dogs assisting their owner in legal hunting or herding livestock; dogs assisting a security guard or a peace officer on duty; and dogs within areas of the city specifically set aside and posted for off-leash exercise.
Subsections (D) and (E) extend "at large" to any animal tethered or leashed on property it is not permitted to be on, and to any animal tethered or leashed on a city street or other city property not set aside for tethering in a way that blocks a public walkway or thoroughfare. 160 separately limits how a dog may be tethered at home, capping restraint at eight hours in any twenty-four-hour period and requiring a tether at least ten feet long with swivels at both ends.
Violations & Fines
An at-large dog is subject to citation and impoundment under Chapter 9.28, and the owner faces prosecution under Chapter 9.32: a Title 9 violation is a misdemeanor unless charged as an infraction under Section 9.32.030, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense under Section 9.32.020. A dog cited while at large and over six months old also triggers the mandatory spay/neuter and microchip requirement of Section 9.08.130(G).
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a dog's leash be in Petaluma?
Are there any exceptions to Petaluma's leash law?
Can I keep my dog on a long tether in the yard instead of walking it on leash?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Petaluma
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